Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Ireland Seeks Public Input on Climate Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is inviting the public to contribute to the development of a new Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan. The draft plan, released in July 2025, outlines a strategic framework for strengthening […]
Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is inviting the public to contribute to the development of a new Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan. The draft plan, released in July 2025, outlines a strategic framework for strengthening the resilience of Ireland’s heritage against the escalating threats posed by climate change.
The public consultation is open until 5pm on 29 July 2025, and submissions can be made via email or post.
Ireland’s rich built and archaeological heritage—from megalithic tombs and early Christian monastic sites to Georgian streetscapes and industrial landmarks—faces growing risks from coastal erosion, flooding, temperature extremes, and shifting environmental baselines. These impacts are already observable, with tangible effects on ancient structures, buried remains, and vulnerable historic towns.
In response, the Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan (SAP I), first adopted in 2019, is undergoing a revision. The Built & Archaeological Heritage Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan was first formulated by then Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht using a six-step planning cycle. This updated plan (SAP II) forms part of Ireland’s broader obligations under the National Adaptation Framework (NAF) that was published in 2024, which mandates sector-specific strategies to prepare for and adapt to climate change across public services.
Ultimately, the second plan also aims to build on the progress made by the first plan’s progress and lessons learned.
The draft plan sets out a policy foundation, guiding principles, and a suite of adaptation actions aimed at mitigating risk and improving long-term resilience. Through this public consultation, the Department seeks feedback that will shape the final version of the plan to be submitted to Government later this year.
Interested parties—including conservationists, local authorities, heritage groups, academics, and members of the public—are invited to share observations on:
The clarity and scope of the plan’s objectives
The relevance and practicality of proposed actions
Gaps in research, policy, or sectoral coordination
Local insights or evidence relating to climate impacts on heritage assets
Submissions will inform the finalised plan and may be published (with personal data removed) on the Department’s website. All submissions are subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Data Protection legislation.
The 2025 draft plan includes:
An assessment of climate risks to Ireland’s tangible heritage assets
Institutional and policy context outlining roles and responsibilities across Government and agencies
Goals and priority actions grouped under thematic areas including data gathering, capacity building, monitoring, and collaboration
Commitments to improve inter-agency coordination, promote best practice, and support local-level adaptation
In particular, the plan stresses the importance of safeguarding vulnerable assets—such as coastal archaeological sites, historic graveyards, and vernacular architecture—through a mix of scientific research, public engagement, and adaptive conservation techniques.
The proposed goals for the draft plan include:
Submissions can be emailed to:
climatechange@housing.gov.ie
Or sent by post to:
National Monuments Service
Custom House,
Dublin 1,
D01 W6X0
All responses must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
The draft adaptation plan and associated documents, including the privacy statement, are available for download at: Gov.ie – Sectoral Adaptation Plan (2025) – Public Consultation
This sectoral adaptation plan is more than a policy document—it is a roadmap for preserving Ireland’s tangible cultural legacy in the face of profound environmental change. As such, the consultation presents a rare opportunity for citizens, experts, and organisations to directly influence heritage resilience policy at national level.
Public engagement is not just encouraged—it is essential. As stewards of a cultural landscape that spans millennia, Ireland’s response to climate challenges must reflect both expert knowledge and local experience.
Whether you’re a professional in conservation, a community historian, or simply a concerned citizen who values Ireland’s heritage, your input can help shape how we protect our shared history in an era of rising climate risks.